Spindle assembly for textile machine

ABSTRACT

A spindle assembly for a yarn spinning or twisting machine consisting of a stator secured to the spindle rail of the machine in a stationary manner and a rotor rotatably mounted on the stator rotated by a spindle tape with yarn being fed from a drafting system through a yarn guide, around a spinning ring, through a rotating traveler and into a slot at the upper end of the rotor and then down through a hollow tube forming part of the stator to a takeup mechanism.

United States Patent 1 Moore [54] SPINDLE ASSEMBLY FOR TEXTILE MACHINE [76] Inventor: William S. Moore, 5 Parkway Drive,

Rome, Ga. 30161 [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 179,483

[52] US. Cl ..57/75, 57/77.3 [51] Int. Cl. ..D01h 7/52 [58] Field of Search ..57/75, 77.3, 77.33, 77.35, 57/77.45

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 106,466 8/1870 Chapin ..57/77.3 X 2,l97,530 4/1940 Purser et al ..57/75 X [11] 3,724,195 451 7 Apr. 3, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 2,591 1875 Great Britain ..57/77.3

Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Clarence A. OBrien et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A spindle assembly for a yarn spinning or twisting machine consisting of a stator secured to the spindle rail of the machine in a stationary manner and a rotor rotatably mounted on the stator rotated by a spindle tape with yarn being fed from a drafting system through a yarn guide, around a spinning ring, through a rotating traveler and into a slot at the upper end of the rotor and then down through a hollow tube forming part of the stator to a takeup mechanism.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR3 1975 3,724,195

SHEET 1 OF 2 I l fi 1;...1

Fig. 4 O o /7 William 51 Moore m' QM WWW PATENTEDAPR 3 I975 SHEET 2 BF 2 William 5. Moore W BY WW 5M SPINDLE ASSEMBLY FOR TEXTILE MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to improvements in existing spindle assemblies employed textile yarn spinning or twisting machines and more specifically relates to a spindle assembly constructed of two components, namely a stator including an upstanding hollow tube mounted stationarily on a frame rail and rotatably journaling a rotor mounted thereon which has a notch in the periphery thereof which receives the yarn from the rotating traveler and thereafter guides the yarn into the upper end of the hollow tube for passage therethrough for engagement with a suitable pickup mechanism.

2. Description of the Prior Art Spinning and twisting machines are well known in the textile industry for forming yarn and winding it onto a bobbin or other storage device. Such presently known machines require rather complex mechanisms to raise and lower the yarn guides, the ring rail and balloon control rings and considerable time is expended in doffing filled bobbins when rewinding the yarn onto packages such as cones or cheese packages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a simplified but yet unique and novel spindle assembly which consists of two components, one of which is a stator and the other a rotor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spindle assembly having a stator and rotor in which the stator is secured to the spinning frame spindle rail in a rigid manner and is provided with a tubular passage therethrough formed by a vertically extending tube which forms a passage for the yarn downwardly therethrough with the tube also forming a rotatable support for the rotor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spindle assembly in accordance with the preceding objects in which the rotor includes an axially extending notch in the upper edge thereof which receives and guides the yarn during rotation of the rotor and discharges the yarn into the upper end of the tubular portion of the stator for engagement with a takeup mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a spindle assembly in which the rotor is journaled from the stator by a pair of spaced bearings and the rotor is retained in assembled position on the stator by the use of a removable snap ring.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a spindle assembly which not only is effective for its purposes but also efficient in operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and capable of use in combination with existing spinning or twisting machines and enables elimination of certain components thereof.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS assembly.

FIG. 4 is an exploded group perspective view of the spindle assembly illustrating the relationship of the components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically to the drawings, the spindle assembly of the present invention is generally designated by the numeral 10 and is illustrated schematically in association with a spinning machine in which untwisted fibers or yarn 12 are processed through a drafting or twisting system generally designated by the numeral 14 a loop type yarn guide 16 and then through a rotating traveler 18 mounted on a spinning ring 20 all of which represent conventional spinning machine structure and technique. The spindle assembly of the present invention includes a stator 22 in the form of a cylindrical body having external threads 24 substantially throughout the length thereof and a peripheral flange 26 at the upper end thereof which is larger than the threads 24. The stator 22 is secured to the spindle rail 28 attached to thespinning frame Sampson 30 which also supports the ring rail 32. The spindle rail 28 is provided with an aperture 34 receiving the lower end portion of the stator with a retaining nut 36 being threaded onto the threaded portion 24 of the stator 22 and locking the stator to the spindle rail 28 when the nut 36 is tightened with a suitable washer 38 being provided between the nut 36 and the spindle rail 28 thereby securely and stationarily locking the stator 22 to the rail.

The upper end of the stator is provided with an upwardly offset axial projection or boss 40 which is of lesser diameter than the flange 26 and. defines a shoulder on the upper surface of the flange 26. Also, an elongated hollow tube 42 is provided on the upper end of the stator 22 with the stator 22 including a longitudinal bore or passage 44 formed therein which extends throughout the length of the stator including the tube 42.

Mounted on the stator 22 is a rotor 46 of generally cylindrical configuration and provided with a cylindrical bore 48 therethrough. The bottom end of the rotor 46 is generally cylindrical and. is provided with a relatively short cylindrical peripheral surface that terminates at its upper edge in an inwardly extending inclined or beveled peripheral surface 50 which terminates in a drive surface 52 for receiving a spindle tape 53 which drives the rotor 46. The driving surface 52 is generally cylindrical but has a convexly curved contour from top to bottom as illustrated in FIG. 3 to retain the spindle tape centralized thereon. The upper end of the rotor 46 is provided with a flange 54 having a cylindrical external surface of substantially the same diameter as the lower end of the rotor. The bottom surface of the flange S4 is inclined or beveled as' at 56 in an opposite manner to the surface 50 to guide and retain the spindle tape in position on the driving surface 52. Also, the upper surface of the flange S4 is inclined inwardly and upwardly as at 58. The portion of the rotor above the flange 54 is in the form of a cylindrical extension 60 which has a radial notch 62 formed therein with the notch having a rounded inner end and receiving the yarn 12 from the rotating traveler on the spinning ring 20 as illustrated in FIG. 3 with the yarn passing inwardly of the notch and downwardly through the bore 44 in the tubular member 42 and the cylindrical lower end of the stator 22.

For journaling the rotor 46 from the stator 22, a pair of bearing assemblies 64 and 66 are provided between the bore 48 and the tube 42 as illustrated in FIG. 3 with the lower bearing assembly 16 projecting slightly below the lower end of the rotor 46 and abutting the shoulder or boss 40. A tubular spacer 68 extends between the bearing assemblies 64 and 66 and retains them in spaced relation and the bearing assemblies as well as the spacer 68 are retained in assembled relation on the tube 42 by a split spring ring 70 which is received in a peripheral groove 72 in the upper end portion of the tube 42 thereby releasably retaining the bearing assemblies 64 and 66, spacer 68 and the rotor on the tube 42 with the bearing assemblies 64 and 66 being rigid with respect to the rotor 46 inasmuch as the outer races thereof may be press fitted into the bore 48 or otherwise secured in place.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the spinning tape 54 is driven by a suitable drive pulley 74 and is provided with an idler pulley assembly 76 which maintains tension on the tape 54. This type of drive and assembly is generally well known. Also the twisted yarn from the spindle assembly is wound onto a yarn package or cheese 78 driven by a surface drive roller 80 with the yarn'being distributed by a reciprocal guide 82. The yarn package 78 is supported from the frame 30 by pivoted arms 84 which enables the yarn package to be pulled up and out for doffing.

As illustrated, the upper end of the rotor 46 extends through an aperture 86 in the ring rail 32 which generally coincides with the ring 20 so that the notch 62 is generally in alignment with the rotating traveler 18.

The present spindle assembly improves present spinning and twisting machines by eliminating the need for a mechanism to raise and lower the yarn guides 16, eliminate the need for a mechanism to raise and lower the ring rail 32, eliminate the need for balloon control.

sistent with good quality and produce such quality on a consistent basis.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A spindle assembly for a yarn spinning or twisting machine comprising a stator adapted to be mounted on the spindle rail of the machine, and a rotor journaled on the stator, said stator comprising a vertically extending passage therethrough, said rotor including a notch extending radially in the upper end thereof for receiving yarn from a rotating traveler on a spinning ring and moving the yarn around the axis of the passage in the stator with the yarn extending down through the passage for engagement with a takeup mechanism.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said stator includes an upstanding tube, said rotor including a bore receiving said tube, bearing means between the bore in the rotor and the tube for journaling the rotor from the stator.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said bearing means supportingly engages a shoulder on the stator, and retaining means detachably engaged with the'upper end of the tube and engaging the bearing means for releasably retaining the rotor on the stator.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said tube is provided with a peripheral groove adjacent the upper end thereof, said retaining means including a split spring ring engaged in said groove for releasably retaining the bearing means on the tube.

5. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the stator includes a threaded portion extending through an opening in the spindle rail, and a retaining nut assembly mounting the stator fixedly on the spindle rail thereby mounting the spindle assembly-on the spindle rail.

6. The-structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotor includes a peripheral drive surface on the exterior thereof defined by upper and lower projecting flanges, said drive surface receiving a spindle tape for driving the rotor.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said notch in the rotor is disposed above the upper flange to retain the yarn above the spinning tape, the portion of the rotor having the notch therein extending through an opening in the ring rail of the machine with the yarn entering the notch in the rotor above the ring rail.

8. In combination with a textile yarn spinning or twisting machine having a yarn drafting system, a yarn guide, a rotating traveler movable around a spinning ring supported on a ring rail, a spindle rail, spindle tape and takeup mechanism, a spindle assembly comprising a stator mounted on the spindle rail of the machine, and a rotor joumaled on the stator, said stator comprising a vertically extending passage therethrough, said rotor including a notch extending radially in the upper end thereof for receiving yarn from the rotating traveler on the spinning ring and moving the yarn around the axis of the passage in the stator with the yarn extending down through the passage for engagement with the takeup mechanism, said stator including spindle rail, and a retaining nut assembly mounting the stator fixedly on the spindle rail thereby mounting the spindle assembly on the spindle rail.

10. The structure as defined in claim 9 wherein said rotor includes a peripheral drive surface on the exterior thereof defined by upper and lower projecting flanges, said drive surface receiving said spindle tape for driving the rotor, said ring rail including an opening therein receiving the upper end-of the rotor, said notch in the rotor being in the upper end thereof above the ring rail. 

1. A spindle assembly for a yarn spinning or twisting machine comprising a stator adapted to be mounted on the spindle rail of the machine, and a rotor journaled on the stator, said stator comprising a vertically extending passage therethrough, said rotor including a notch extending radially in the upper end thereof for receiving yarn from a rotating traveler on a spinning ring and moving the yarn around the axis of the passage in the stator with the yarn extending down through the passage for engagement with a takeup mechanism.
 2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said stator includes an upstanding tube, said rotor including a bore receiving said tube, bearing means between the bore in the rotor and the tube for journaling the rotor from the stator.
 3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said bearing means supportingly engages a shoulder on the stator, and retaining means detachably engaged with the upper end of the tube and engaging the bearing means for releasably retaining the rotor on the stator.
 4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said tube is provided with a peripheral groove adjacenT the upper end thereof, said retaining means including a split spring ring engaged in said groove for releasably retaining the bearing means on the tube.
 5. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the stator includes a threaded portion extending through an opening in the spindle rail, and a retaining nut assembly mounting the stator fixedly on the spindle rail thereby mounting the spindle assembly on the spindle rail.
 6. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotor includes a peripheral drive surface on the exterior thereof defined by upper and lower projecting flanges, said drive surface receiving a spindle tape for driving the rotor.
 7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said notch in the rotor is disposed above the upper flange to retain the yarn above the spinning tape, the portion of the rotor having the notch therein extending through an opening in the ring rail of the machine with the yarn entering the notch in the rotor above the ring rail.
 8. In combination with a textile yarn spinning or twisting machine having a yarn drafting system, a yarn guide, a rotating traveler movable around a spinning ring supported on a ring rail, a spindle rail, spindle tape and takeup mechanism, a spindle assembly comprising a stator mounted on the spindle rail of the machine, and a rotor journaled on the stator, said stator comprising a vertically extending passage therethrough, said rotor including a notch extending radially in the upper end thereof for receiving yarn from the rotating traveler on the spinning ring and moving the yarn around the axis of the passage in the stator with the yarn extending down through the passage for engagement with the takeup mechanism, said stator including an upstanding tube, said rotor including a bore receiving said tube, bearing means between the bore in the rotor and the tube for journaling the rotor from the stator, and a retaining member releasably retaining the rotor on the stator.
 9. The structure as defined in claim 8 wherein said tube is provided with a peripheral groove adjacent the upper end thereof, said retaining member including a split spring ring engaged in said groove for releasably retaining the rotor on the tube, said stator including threaded portion extending through an opening in the spindle rail, and a retaining nut assembly mounting the stator fixedly on the spindle rail thereby mounting the spindle assembly on the spindle rail.
 10. The structure as defined in claim 9 wherein said rotor includes a peripheral drive surface on the exterior thereof defined by upper and lower projecting flanges, said drive surface receiving said spindle tape for driving the rotor, said ring rail including an opening therein receiving the upper end of the rotor, said notch in the rotor being in the upper end thereof above the ring rail. 